Episode 49: Rees Jones

Rees Jones has spent nearly 35 years preparing, modifying and remodeling golf courses for major championship events. In addition to the 100 original courses and dozens of renovations he’s orchestrated, he’s infused his vision into such venerable American tournament courses as Pinehurst No. 2, Oakland Hills, Medinah No. 3 and The Country Club for the staging of nearly 25 U.S. Opens and PGA Championships. He’s also overhauled a number of his father Robert Trent Jones’ most noteworthy major championship courses including the Atlanta Athletic Club, Hazeltine and Bellerive.

Jones joins the podcast to discuss Bethpage Black (site of this year’s PGA Championship) as a tournament course and how the setups for the PGA and an upcoming Ryder Cup will differ, how equipment and swing technology have altered his approach to renovations, his opinion about the use of a tournament golf ball, the necessity of rough for the professional game, why Tiger Woods has had so much success on his re-designs, how Robert Trent Jones’ aesthetic evolved and the importance of trees on golf courses.

Photo: Bethpage Black (reesjonesinc.com)

Derek joined Tom Dunne, publisher of McKellar Magazine, to talk about his story in Volume 2 about Dave Axland–listen here and here.

Derek also recently joined Ricky Lee Potts on The Wednesday Match Play Podcast, Episode 131

Finally, read about some of Derek’s favorite public golf courses at UKGolfGuy.com

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Outro Music: “Keep Together,” Wasted Potential Brass Band

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